Directed by Gary Marshall, the man behind Pretty Woman and Valentines Day, and starring some of the biggest names in Hollywood, New Year's Eve is exactly what you'd expect it to be. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, really depends on you.
Based on the same formula that proved a hit with Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve tells the story of a group of New Yorkers dealing with the pressures of the titular day. Like Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve's main draw is it cast, with Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Zac Effron, Hilary Swank and Jessica Biel all involved. However, with a cast that most directors would kill for, we still see the usual workaholic mother, the self centred bachelor and another host of romcom archetypes. Cliches aren't always a bad thing, it's just a shame with a cast this varied and talented, that director Marshal and screenwriter Katherine Fugate didn't give them more to work with. More time is spent trying to spot the cameos and place faces, than paying attention to the plot. While it's hard to find many of the actors anywhere other than their comfort zone, there are a few that stand out, Michelle Pfeiffer's unusual relationship with Zac Effron proving a highlight. Halle Berry makes the most of her limited screentime, playing a nurse looking after Robert DeNiro's cancer patient.
As with all romantic comedies, things don't go as you expect, and as midnight approaches hearts are broken, new relationships begin and others end. As the crowds gather in Time Square, beautifully photographed by cinematographer Charles Minsky at last year's event, we hear a number of speeches on taking our chances and learning from our mistakes. It's a message that director Marshal should heed.
While it's easy to criticise New Year's Eve for so by the numbers, it's the exact reason most people will want to see it; and while there's nothing wrong with wanting a happy ending, there's also nothing wrong with demanding some originality to go with it.
